I am writing regarding the 6/20/08 Daily News article, "Wethersfield feels the winds of change." The article contained some very disturbing statements that were attributed to Douglas Berwanger, Chairman of the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors, that need to be addressed.

According to the article, Mr. Berwanger attempts to justify the ruination of what was once the most beautiful county in WNY, all for the money involved, by stating that "people are being held hostage by the high prices they're experiencing at the gas pumps. Somebody has to do something about it, and that's happening right now in Wethersfield."

I'm wondering if Mr. Berwanger would like to explain to all of us how he thinks wind-generated electricity is going to have any effect at all on our U.S. oil dependence problem? Besides being totally false, Berwanger's statements prove that he has not bothered to do one single iota of research into the facts associated with the industrial wind issue. Mr. Berwanger, like those who stand to gain personally whom I've heard spew the same nonsense (non-science), is terribly ill-informed.

- Fact: In 2007, only 1.5% of our nation's electricity came from burning oil (Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/us.pdf), and most of that usage came from a tarry residual oil, or coal-like petroleum coke - both otherwise almost useless byproducts of refining.

- Fact: In 2007, the U.S. EXPORTED significantly more than twice as much oil as we burn to make electricity. (Source: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/mcrexus1A.htm and http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/chap2.pdf)

These indisputable facts, among many others easily sourced for those who care to research the truth, prove that wind-generated electricity has absolutely NOTHING at all to do with U.S. oil dependence. As former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts."

Decisions on the appropriateness of building industrial wind installations should be based on the scientific facts of the issue, not just about who stands to profit from these projects. Since wind can never provide RELIABLE power on demand, it is simply the electricity version of the ethanol scam. It mattered not that it cost more energy to make a gallon of ethanol than it provided, nor that there were many who foretold of the problems associated with ethanol. Alas, since there was money to be made, politicians pushed it through in their "politically correct" rush to appear "green". Now, we are left dealing with the consequences of the rising costs of food and anything else associated with corn, the havoc it is wreaking on the environment, while it certainly isn't alleviating our oil dependence.

It is very sad indeed, that energy and public policy decisions are being based on greed, ignorance, and misinformation being put forth by corporate wind profiteers, pandering politicians, and agenda-driven, corporate-owned media (e.g. - GE owns NBC), rather than according to what's actually right and wrong.

Elected officials, and the many who still choose to remain indifferent and uninvolved, owe it to their children and their fellow countrymen to take responsibility for educating themselves and demanding accountability for the claims driving these marketing scams. Until we overcome the ignorance and apathy pervasive in our country today, we will make NO progress toward REAL, scientifically-proven and environmentally-sound energy solutions.

We continue to trust that TRUTH and educated, moral decision making will prevail in this, our "One nation under God." Currently however, the "It's all about the money" mentality presides. Sadly, we are all well aware that money - "the root of all evil", has been the driving force behind the demise of many since the beginning of time, and will take tremendous moral fortitude and perserverance to overcome. Consider that Jesus Christ was sold out by Judas, one of His own disciples, for a mere 30 pieces of silver. Too late to change what he had done, and despondent over his choice to sell out his friend, Judas hung himself.